Coaches & Staff

Olympia Fencing Center Founder and Director, Daniel Hondor

Daniel started his swordplay career with dreams of earning a spot among the Three Musketeers.

Enthralled by the adventures of the trio, 7-year-old Daniel picked up his first rapier, beginning an association with fencing that would eventually take him around the world as a member of Romania’s national team.

Eventually, after years of international dueling, he has laid down the sword and took up the mantle of coach, teaching the Romanian Junior Team techniques he’d learned throughout his career.

The 1996 Atlanta Olympics Games brought him to America, where he continues to share the art of fencing with students of all ages and experience levels.

He and his fellow instructors lead adult programs that help veteran swordsmen sharpen their skills and introduce novices to the sport’s intricacies.
In homage to his childhood inspiration, he also hosts Musketeers classes that acquaint kiddies aged 6–10 with basic rules and moves, preparing them for future classes and eventual careers as knights of the realm.

He was a mentor for eight years, for over 100 fencers, as head coach at Bay State Fencers Club, in Somerville, MA.

Coach Iliya Mechkov

Originally from Bulgaria, with over 20 years of competitive fencing experience, Olympian Iliya Mechkov taught epee in Chicago for seven years prior his moving to Boston and joining Olympia Fencing Center.

A great asset to our club, we’re happy to have him among us – his friendly attitude quickly won children’s hearts and his fencing results make him a great example to follow.

Assistant coach: Scott Foster

Scott Foster is a mathematics teacher with the Boston Public Schools and holds a Master’s Degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Scott learned to fence at his local Y and as a youth fencer reached the semi-finals at the National Junior Olympics solely on the basis of group lessons. Scott continues to train and compete as well as coach.

Children Programs Coordinator, Lori Schmidt

Lori began fencing in college and was a member of the Boston University Fencing Club. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2010. Prior to college, Lori had been playing tennis competitively for many years and has gained experience in training children and persons with disability.

Lori has been fencing under coach Daniel Hondor for nearly one year. Currently holding a B 2014 ranking and one Div II national medal, Lori competes at the national level and aspires to compete internationally.

In parallel with her fencing training, she is enrolled in a pre-veterinary studies program at Tufts University in preparation for veterinary school.